Utah QB Wilson has respect of UCLA

LOS ANGELES The first start of Travis Wilson's college career came last October at the Rose Bowl as Utah's then-freshman quarterback desperately tried to ignite a sluggish Utes offense that could barely manage to move the ball.

But that was then. In the 10 starts since that 21-14 loss to UCLA, Wilson (San Clemente High) has transformed from bottom-tier Pac-12 quarterback into a potential burgeoning star. Through four games this season, Wilson's stats have been strikingly similar to those of Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley, who is the most celebrated of the two.

“There's a really good comparison between those two guys, and it's going to be an intriguing matchup,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “What Travis brings to the table and makes him difficult to defend, Hundley does the same thing for the Bruins.”

That comparison would have seemed silly a year ago, when Hundley burst onto the scene as one of the nation's top young quarterbacks. But Wilson, against arguably tougher pass defenses, has been as effective.

“He's a stud, man,” linebacker Jordan Zumwalt (Edison High) said of Wilson. “He's got a great arm and being as tall as he is (6-foot-7), he can put it top shelf. We've got a tall pass rush and he can get it over them. We're going to have to get home a little bit more than just to be next to him to affect him.”

Wilson's arm has been the most distinct difference in Utah's new-and-improved offense as the Utes have focused more on taking shots down field. At 9.7 yards per attempt – up a 3.3 yards from last season – Wilson leads the Pac-12 in the category, while none of the quarterbacks UCLA has faced comes within 2 yards of that average.

That willingness to stretch the defense with Wilson's arm means UCLA's inexperienced secondary could be tested more than it has this season. In each of his four games, Wilson has completed at least one pass of 49 yards or more.

“Hopefully we can discourage that,” defensive backs coach Demetrice Martin said. “I know that's kind of been the word from prior weeks (that the secondary wasn't tested) … but I think we might've had a little something to do with people not challenging us.”

COLD BLOODED

Zumwalt remembers his last trip to Rice-Eccles Stadium. And it's not one of his warmer football memories.

“That was the coldest I've ever been in my entire life,” Zumwalt said of the 2011 meeting, which Utah won, 31-6. “I don't think we're going to have to face that this year. If we did, it's nothing we can't overcome, but I think it was like zero degrees, snowing, a blizzard. It was icy. It was ridiculous.”

There might not be early October snow Thursday, but UCLA won't bring Los Angeles weather with it. Early reports are predicting the temperature to be in the mid-40s with a 30 percent chance of rain.

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